Acton Institute Powerblog

connecting good intentions with sound economics

High Court Ruling Favors Prayer at Council Meeting
Mark Sherman, Associated Press
A narrowly divided Supreme Court upheld decidedly Christian prayers at the start of local council meetings on Monday, declaring them in line with long national traditions though the country has grown more religiously diverse. Continue Reading...

Latest Posts

What was the Greece vs. Galloway case about?
The short answer: The constitutionality of saying religiously specific prayers (e.g., praying in Jesus name) at government meetings and functions.
The (slightly) longer answer: In the town of Greece, located in upstate New York, the Town Board sessions were opened by a prayer from local clergy, mostly leaders of Christian congregations although in a few instances members of other faith traditions offered the invocation (a Jewish man, a Baha’i leader, and a Wiccan). Continue Reading...

Is global warming irrational? Is it bad science? Yes, to both says Nigel Lawson, a member of the U.K. House of Lords and chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation. However, Lawson takes it one step further; he calls global-warming alarmism “wicked.”
In a lengthy piece at National Review Online, Lawson first details being threatened by those who insist on the “facts” of global-warming. Continue Reading...

Could our strong marriages and great interpersonal relationships be a threat to the state? Stella Morabito thinks so. In a piece at The Federalist, Morabito says the State has something to lose when culture promotes traditional marriage, strong families and ties to the community. Continue Reading...

The Church and the U.N., Again
Austin Ruse, The Catholic Thing
The Holy See is in the U.N. dock again next week. This time it’s the U.N. Committee on Torture, and it will not be pretty. Continue Reading...

Russell Moore talks and writes about a lot of topics as president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He even writes about the legendary Johnny Cash. “Cash always seems to connect,” says Moore. Continue Reading...

Zenit, the Catholic news service, published a recap of Acton Institute’s conference, “Faith, State, and the Economy: Perspectives from East and West.” The event, held in Rome on April 29, brought expert speakers from around the world to explore the complex relationship between religious liberty and economic freedom. Continue Reading...

On The Catholic World Report, Acton’s Michael Matheson Miller offers a personal reflection on the recent canonization of Pope John Paul II.
There were pilgrims from all parts of the world: Spaniards, Australians, a remarkable number of French (including a couple whose five young children wore matching jackets), a large group from Equatorial Guinea were also matching with commemorative traditional garb marked with images of Pope John Paul. Continue Reading...

When I was growing up I had a buddy—let’s call him “Bob”—who was constantly asking, “What happens if we do . . . ?” Bob’s curiosity, however, only led him to wonder about foolish actions. Continue Reading...

PM Erdoğan planning prayers with Islamic leaders in Hagia Sophia
Radikal
In a possible bid to balance potential controversy, a reform package prepared by the government may also include steps regarding the historic Halki Seminary. Continue Reading...